“Gary,” I said softly, “I don’t hate you.”
He looked up.
“
I don’t?”
“No. I don’t hate you. But I don’t want to be married to you anymore.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“I understand.”
I took a breath.
“I hope you find happiness. I really do. But I need you to understand something.”
“What?”
“You don’t get to return to my life just because you’re lonely.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“And you don’t get to decide that the past should be erased simply because you’re sorry.”
“I know.”
We stood in silence.
Then he said, “You look happy.”
I smiled.
“
I am.”
He looked at me for a moment longer.
Then he nodded and went back inside.
I watched him leave.
There was no triumph.
No desire to hurt him.
Just a quiet sense of closure.
Later that night, Emily hugged me.
